Q&A for How to Hit a Volleyball

First, without a ball, just work on the footwork then jumping, trying not to get in the net. Once you’ve perfecting your footwork, then your hitting will start to improve.

It is technically a legal hit, but you will not have any control over it if you hit it with the back of your hand.

Put your hands on your hips with your 4 fingers in front. Then, keep your hands in that same shape and bring them above your head. Keep your thumbs as far away as your eyes are apart, and push the volleyball with the pads of your fingers and not your palms.

First, squat with your feet at least hip-width apart and lean your torso forward. Clasp your hands together into a loose fist and stretch your arms out, parallel to the floor. Then bump the volleyball with your forearms.

The most used way, the forearm pass, or bump, uses the forearm area, called your platform, to contact the ball. This pass is used mainly to get the ball to the setter in a transition from defense to offense. The set is used mostly by the setter to set the hitters up to hit the ball. And finally, the hit, which is used by the hitters to get the ball over the net in an attempt to score a point.

You could pass and set the ball against a wall, pass around with your siblings, do core excercises that will improve your serving and hitting, and work on your vertical jump.

No. You may legally only serve with your hands, and it has to be overhand or underhand.

Never make a fist when digging/bumping as this can often block the ball from hitting your forearms, and it’s not a steady platform. If you do make a fist when bumping, it's usually in higher levels or for last resort saves, and this would be called a one-handed dig. Otherwise, using your fist can lead to injuries. Normally, your weaker hand should be underneath your stronger hand, and then you would put both of your thumbs together, over the top of the strong hand’s palm.

You can't play volleyball by yourself, but if you have friends to play with, you can play it for fun. You wouldn't be considered a serious volleyball player in that case, though - you'd have to join a team for that.

Technically your "platform" lays between the wrist and mid-forearm. So depending on where, and how much force you intend to bump it with, yes, you can bump with your wrist. But remember, control is key.

If you are passing, or bumping the ball, then it depends. When it spins, it’s harder for the setter to set it, but when you get a good dig, then it spins a lot. If you are setting, then that means you are doing a double, which would result as a point for the other team in a real game.

When underarm serving, making sure the palm side of your clenched fist hits the ball is better than hitting the ball where the index finger and the thumb meet. The palm creates a platform to push the ball up and over the net. If you hit with the side of your fist, you risk sending the ball straight into the net. Always remember to throw the ball up slightly (a volleyball rule many forget), and hit the underside of the ball.

The basics of volleyball is to hit or bump the ball to your teammates or over the net and make sure the ball doesn't hit the ground on your side. It's like a symphony of hitting and bumping when people make it across the net and back over without it hitting the ground. It's really fun, basically.

Wear your glasses or contacts. There are special frames for glasses that secure them more safely to your face.

You hit it softly with the meat of your hands.

No. This causes you to lose control of the ball, and it rarely goes over the net. You only toss it when you do an overhand serve. If you want more power in your serve, then try to take a few steps beforehand.

The best way to improve is to practice. Have someone spike the ball over the net and practice digging the ball. You can also read more about digging here .

Work on getting more leg strength, and make sure you always bring your arms back for more momentum when you jump. Also, practice your approach without a ball.

The easiest way to put topspin on a ball for somebody who doesn't go very far above the net is to roll your wrist instead of snapping it. Rolling is quite similar––you just are going to roll your palm over the ball instead of instantly flicking down.

Yes, you can not hold or carry the ball. If you caught it you would be holding it so the other team gets a point.

You can either hit the ball more softly, or if you want to keep that same power, flick your wrist so the ball goes down instead of far.

This is a legal hit but you wouldn't have much control over the ball. If you are able, I either try passing or setting the ball instead.

If the ball is heading straight towards you, you can dig it up however if the ball is heading straight for the ground and you believe you can’t make it in time to properly receive it you can save the ball by deliberately falling/sliding to the ball and keeping it up with the back of your hand on the floor. Allowing the ball to bounce on your hand rather than the floor keeps the ball up, this is sometimes called a pancake. In desperate times you can also use your foot to keep the ball up by allowing the ball to bounce on your foot.